After visit, nation’s No. 18 safety says LSU sits atop his list

The road from Houston to Baton Rouge, La., has become all too familiar for the nation’s No. 18 safety, and that has worked to the Tigers’ advantage.

After Delpit and his entire family made the trek to LSU’s campus this past weekend to take in the Tigers’ spring scrimmage on Saturday, the four-star safety admitted that this visit had a different feel to it.

Perhaps it’s because he could finally focus on football. Perhaps it’s because he’s getting even more comfortable with the coaches. Or perhaps it’s because his entire family seemed to enjoy the atmosphere.

For whatever reason, another trip to LSU has led one of the nation’s fastest-rising defensive backs to name the Tigers as his leading school.

“LSU would probably be at the top of the list,” Delpit told SEC Country. “It’s nothing really specifically that they do, but it’s just a good feeling that when I go there, it feels so familiar.”

Louisiana should feel like home for Delpit, who was born in New Orleans but relocated to Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when he was 6 years old.

A number of Delpit’s family members still reside in New Orleans, but they made the short trip up to the capital to check out LSU for the first time this weekend.

“I had to bring the fam,” Delpit laughed. “I have family in New Orleans, so I brought them with me. They have never seen it firsthand, so we watched the scrimmage. They liked it, and they liked to see where I might be if I went there.”

Equally as important, Delpit has yet another glowing review of the Tigers on his return trip to Louisiana this spring.

For Delpit, the focus was more about football, which came as a welcomed surprise after making trips to Baylor and TCU in recent weeks to try and narrow down his top schools.

This time at LSU, Delpit felt more comfortable, and that was apparent in the conversation between the safety and the Tigers’ coaches.

“I guess the more times I go, the closer I get with the coaches,” Delpit explained. “It started to get a little bit better. It was a good weekend, getting closer with the coaches. Some of them told me that we’re close to home, since I’m from New Orleans and I grew up around LSU football. They think I’d be a good fit.”

More specifically, Delpit views himself as a good for LSU.

Delpit has seen the LSU defense up close before, but after speaking with defensive backs coach Corey Raymond and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, he’s getting a better idea of how he would be utilized.

“I love Coach Raymond and I like the way his defenses play great,” Delpit said. “The more I go, the closer I get with Coach Raymond. When I go, I don’t feel like I’m going to tour. We’re talking about football and how I fit into the program.”

Coach Les Miles made it clear how well he thinks Delpit would fit into the program, too.

LSU’s head coach likened the 6-foot-3, 185-pound native of New Orleans to a former Tigers safety who has gone on to be a first-round pick and is now one of the NFL’s youngest stars at the position for the San Francisco 49ers.

“Coach Miles said I reminded him of Eric Reid when he went there and that I’d be a good fit,” Delpit said. “I was very grateful that he had that view of me.”

Delpit does not have any more visits planned, though he did indicate he may try to return to LSU one last time this spring or at least in the summertime.